Still no stadium deal with Braves

Friday

Aug 3, 2012 at 4:30 PM

Wilmington council to hold closed session Monday

By Shelby SebensShelby.Sebens@StarNewsOnline.com

The city of Wilmington is still wrestling with the Atlanta Braves over the cost of a proposed baseball stadium. The City Council plans to meet in closed session after an agenda briefing Monday morning to talk about the baseball negotiations. If the two parties can come to a deal, voters could be deciding in November if they want the city to pay to construct a minor league stadium. The city has been negotiating for weeks, trying to bridge the gap between what Mandalay will pay and what city council is willing to ask of the taxpayers. The tentative deal includes spending no more than $37 million on the ballpark project, which includes $6 million for the land on the river in front of PPD. The construction costs would not exceed $31 million and would take a 2.5-cent property tax increase, according to city spokeswoman Malissa Talbert.The target date for completion would be April 2014 or April 2015, depending on final design.Mayor Bill Saffo said he's cautiously optimistic the stadium project will still move forward."It's a good negotiation as long as everybody is still at the table," he said. Saffo wouldn't say what issues still need to be worked out, but said there has been a lot of back and forth between staff and lawyers. He added that he hopes council will be able to make an announcement after the closed session Monday. Mandalay President of Baseball Development Rich Neumann could not be reached for comment Friday.Saffo said council's agenda for Tuesday's meeting includes a public hearing and a consideration to move the bond referendum on the November ballot. The debt for construction and agreement with Mandalay/Braves would be for 20 years. The stadium is proposed as a 5,500-seat ballpark to be located on 8.5 acres of what was formerly known as the Almont property that could also include a 1.5-acre city park, according to Talbert.The bond order originally was written for $42 million in bonds, but council members have said that is too high a cost for a stadium and they had the option to change it. Saffo said $31 million for construction was a number council members felt like they could make work and build a full-amenity minor league stadium. The $6 million would be for the land along the river owned by developer Chuck Schoninger. Council recently started solely negotiating with Schoninger after considering other parcels, including land that would have been given to the city for free along Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. The proposed $37 million general obligation bonds would be used to acquire land or easements or rights of way and to construct and equip a baseball stadium.